NEON Biorepository Mammal Collection (Vouchers [Standard Sampling])

Small mammals collected during NEON live-trapping events. Sampling 3-8 mammal trapping grids per site 3 are designated pathogen grids (3 nights per bout) Rest are designated diversity grids (1 night per bout) Number of bouts/year dependant on site type Core sites: ~6 bouts/year Gradient sites: ~4 bouts/year Sampling aligned with lunar cycle (within ±10 days of new moon) Methods Live capture using Sherman box traps (10 × 10 grids, 10 m spacing) Traps opened over night and closed during the day Individuals vouchered if found deceased or require euthanasia, otherwise processed and released Preservation Received as whole frozen specimens Prepared either as study skins with skulls (or full skeletons) or in 70-95% ethanol Standard mammalian measurements taken (in mm; total length, tail length, hind foot length, ear length; and in g: mass) Endo- and ectoparasites removed and archived